New UW president on athletics: It’s the ‘front porch’

Michael Young talks after the University of Utah was admitted to the Pac-10 June 17, 2010, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)

Good news for fans of Huskies sports.

The University of Washington’s next president describes himself as a “football president.” And he sees athletic programs as an important public relations tool.

Michael Young, currently the head of the University of Utah, was named the next UW president earlier this week. And he said Wednesday that he thinks of athletic programs as “the front porch” of a university.

“There’s a kind of nice visibility a good athletics program can give you,” Young said.

The University of Utah will join the the Pac-10 — make that the Pac-12 soon — later this year. The university’s football team has seen success lately, including an undefeated season in 2008.

“I’m probably the most successful football president the University of Utah has ever seen,” Young said Wednesday when asked to describe his relationship with athletic departments.